UK Member of Parliament Bob Blackman has extended his unwavering support to India in its pursuit of justice following the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Speaking at a commemorative ceremony held at India House in London, Blackman asserted that the UK should stand behind any action India chooses to take—“including military action, if necessary”—to destroy terrorist bases across the Line of Control (LoC).
Blackman stated, “We come to share the grief. When terror strikes, it strikes the hearts of humanity…This act (the terrorist attack) demonstrates the hatred towards people because of their religion, and this cannot be tolerated.” He emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with India, adding that he had raised the matter in the House of Commons and called for a government statement supporting India’s response.
Recollecting his visit to Kashmir nine years ago, Blackman spoke of the valley’s beauty and condemned the terrorist intention to disrupt peace and tourism. “I would strongly support whatever India does to pursue the terrorists and those who have backed the terrorists…If they can’t be brought to justice, they must be eliminated.”
The solemn event in London also saw participation from UK Labour MP and Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West. She called the attack “horrific” and conveyed condolences on behalf of the UK government and Parliament. “The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the face of the cowardly attacks of terrorism against innocent civilians,” West said.
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, delivered a deeply emotional address, stressing that the attack was aimed at destabilizing normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted, “This is the largest killing of civilians since the Mumbai terror attacks…people were pulled out, identified on the basis of their religious identity and shot dead.”
Doraiswami highlighted that the victims included a newly married couple and a child who had come to Pahalgam for a holiday. He reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message that there would be “no forgiveness, and a price will be paid” for this heinous act. “There will be no commitments. There will be no forgiveness…There will be nothing in the world that will stop us from doing that,” he stated.
Among the attendees were Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan and Maharashtra’s Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsat. Indian diaspora members from across the UK gathered to honor the victims and show their support.
The terrorist attack, which occurred at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen, making it one of the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama attack. In response, India has launched strong diplomatic and strategic countermeasures, holding Pakistan accountable for its role in supporting cross-border terrorism.